Lucius POV
The quiet in my room felt oppressive, like the calm before a storm. Moon Whisper always had an eerie stillness, but tonight, it felt different. I glanced out the window, where the moon hung low in the sky, its pale glow casting long shadows over the horizon. The suitcase by my side was packed, and my mind was already set on what I needed to do. But my heart... my heart was another matter entirely.
As much as I had convinced myself that leaving was the only option, the mate bond still tugged at me relentlessly, like an unbreakable chain linking me to Kurtis and Emilia. The very idea of turning my back on them felt like a betrayal, but it was a necessary one. Too many lives depended on my decisions, and I couldn't afford to lose focus now.
I had to take care of Xavier, I had to take care of Greyhound. This was my duty and I was bound by it.
A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.
